Maine's Weathervane Seafood Restaurants Donate Thousands to Red Cross for Hurricane Relief

Kittery-based Weathervane Seafood Restaurants recently donated over $7669 to the America Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, to aid victims of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

(PRWEB) December 8, 2005 -- Weathervane Seafood Restaurants recently donated over $7669 to the America Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, to aid victims of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The funds were raised as part of Dine for America day, a national fundraising effort organized by the National Restaurant Association. On October 5, over 17,000 participating restaurants, their owners and operators, employees and guests joined together and raised millions of dollars for the Red Cross's recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast. The exact amount will be announced in December.

All Oct. 5 sales of the Weathervane's "Pa's Famous Fried Onion Rings" were earmarked for the event. That raised a one-day total of $3247.86. In addition, employees at the 16 Weathervane restaurants in New England and New York contributed an additional $4421.25 during a separate, six-week fund drive.

"The Red Cross is very grateful for the generous financial support of Weathervane Seafoods and its wonderful employees," said Suzanne McCormick, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Southern Maine. "Every dollar of the millions raised through Dine for America are earmarked specifically for our Katrina and Rita relief efforts, to help survivors, victims and their families."

Her gratitude was echoed by Jeremy Gagner, Vice President of Site Development for the Kittery- based family of seafood restaurants. "I would like to personally thank each employee who donated to the Katrina relief effort, either through our campaign or on their own," Gagner said.

Weathervane owner Terry Gagner explained that there is no Dine For America organization. "It's simply a group of caring individuals, restaurants, employees and supporters from around the country who came together to support those affected by this recent national catastrophe."

The idea for Dine For America emerged from the ashes of September 11th. In the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center, a group of restaurant employees in Seattle was looking for a way for their company and co-workers to help their fellow Americans. With the encouragement of their CEO, they launched a fund-raising effort that raised over $20 million dollars.

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